Ebor Festival 2026 Tips - Race-by-Race Preview for Day 3

Jon Vine

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Last updated: Fri 21 Aug 2026 04:11

Jon Vine 1 hour ago

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Day 3 features the Lonsdale, Gimcrack, and Nunthorpe Stakes at York
Key tips: Zennor Storm, Amiloc, American Affair, and Starlust
Top value bets include Master Vintner and Hell Of A Spin each-way

York hosts a huge Day 3 card on Friday, featuring the Nunthorpe Stakes, Lonsdale Cup and Gimcrack Stakes. (Getty)

The Ebor Festival reaches its penultimate day on Friday, with racing fans treated to another action-packed afternoon at York.

Ebor Festival 2026 - Day 3 Preview
Race 1 - Sky Bet Mile Handicap Tips
Race 2 - Lonsdale Cup Tips
Race 3 - Gimcrack Stakes Tips
Race 4 - Nunthorpe Stakes Tips
Race 5 - Assured Data Protection Handicap Tips
Race 6 - Convivial Maiden Stakes Tips
Race 7 - Fillies' Handicap Tips
Ebor Festival Day 3 Tips Summary

The Lonsdale Cup and Gimcrack Stakes build towards the feature event, the Group 1 Nunthorpe Stakes.

Our race-by-race preview for Day 3 of the 2026 Ebor Festival is provided below, while Live Racing & Sports Updates has the latest previews, analysis and coverage across all sporting codes.

Ebor Festival 2026 - Day 3 Preview

Race 1 - Sky Bet Mile Handicap Tips

I'm going to back two runners in Friday's opening three-year-old handicap, starting with 7. Zennor Storm.

William Haggas' gelding ran very well in a similar handicap here at York in June, staying on strongly to finish fourth, and I fancied Zennor Storm to go close in the World Pool Handicap at Goodwood on the back of that effort.

Again, Tom Marquand settled his keen-going mount towards the rear, with Zennor Storm's late flourish only good enough for second behind the well-backed Exclusive Code.

The pair meet again on Friday, but Haggas' contender is around 2kg better off at the weights, while Zennor Storm has landed a favourable low draw in barrier four.

I'm hoping barrier 12 won't prove too much of an issue for 11. Jeddaal, who returns to his own age group following a strong effort in the Thirsk Summer Cup.

Ed Walker's gelding went into that valuable contest on the back of an impressive handicap victory at Chester.

Jeddaal was backed into favouritism at Thirsk and hit the front turning for home, only to be run down by the fast-finishing Witch Hunter before dropping back to fourth in the dying stages.

He will have gained valuable experience from going so close against hardened older handicappers, while Kieran Shoemark takes the ride on Friday and Walker's contender should run well carrying just 56.5kg.

Race 2 - Lonsdale Cup Tips

I'd backed 3. Amiloc at a much bigger price ahead of the Goodwood Cup.

Ralph Beckett's gelding was backed into 17/2 before the start but never got the chance to test himself against Scandinavia and Trawlerman, with Hector Crouch catching his leg in the barriers and crashing to the ground after just two strides.

Amiloc disappointed first-up in the Yorkshire Cup here in May, where he was clearly in desperate need of the run.

Beckett's four-year-old then produced a lovely effort in a superb renewal of the Hardwicke Stakes at Royal Ascot, staying on strongly from the rear to finish just five lengths behind Giavellotto and Kalpana.

Amiloc looked highly progressive as a three-year-old and shaped at Royal Ascot as though he was ready for this rise in distance.

Rossa Ryan's mount receives around 1.5kg from favourite Caballo De Mar, and the late support that arrived for Amiloc before the Goodwood Cup shouldn't be forgotten.

Race 3 - Gimcrack Stakes Tips

We now move to a wide-open renewal of the Gimcrack Stakes, and I fancy a punt on outsider 6. Hell Of A Spin.

Adrian Keatley's juvenile ran well when second on debut at Newcastle at the end of June before fighting on gamely to claim a narrow maiden victory on his turf debut at Hamilton.

Hell Of A Spin was then sent off at 66/1 for the Molecomb Stakes at Goodwood, where Keatley's runner produced a cracking effort to finish third behind Pershaada and Adonius.

Those are two of the fastest juveniles in the UK this season, so finishing so close behind them over 1000m was an excellent effort.

Mikey Sheehy's mount shapes as though he will appreciate the step up to 1200m, which isn't surprising given his sire, 2022 Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes winner Naval Crown, won over 1200m, 1400m and 1600m during his career.

Race 4 - Nunthorpe Stakes Tips

All eyes will be on Bacio as the Palace Of Holyroodhouse winner attempts to hand Wesley Ward his first Nunthorpe Stakes.

Bacio should be one of the quickest from the barriers and could still be leading inside the final 200m, but I have my doubts about whether he'll see it out, and I've picked out two runners to oppose the favourite.

2. American Affair returned to winning form in the King George Qatar Stakes at Goodwood.

Jim Goldie's star suffered an injury soon after his breakthrough victory in the 2025 King Charles III Stakes and failed to fire first-up over 1200m here at York in May.

Paul Mulrennan's mount then went close behind Night Raider at Haydock before a disappointing performance on his return to Royal Ascot.

American Affair kept on strongly from a tricky position to finish a close sixth in the City Walls Stakes back here at York in July before producing that superb victory on Day 4 at Glorious Goodwood.

He travelled sweetly behind Partisan Hero that day before quickening clear late to score narrowly.

Mulrennan has drawn directly alongside Bacio in barrier four, which should give American Affair an ideal target, while this in-form sprinter has already proven himself at Group 1 level.

The same can be said for 9. Starlust, who ended an excellent three-year-old campaign with a stunning victory in the Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint.

Ralph Beckett's sprinter took a real liking to York that season, winning a handicap at the Dante Festival before producing an excellent performance to land the 2024 City Walls Stakes.

Starlust also finished a close third behind Bradsell in that season's Nunthorpe and was retired to stud in Australia following a strong fourth behind American Affair at Royal Ascot the following campaign.

Sadly, Starlust's swimmers were deemed unsuitable for breeding, and he returned to training with Ralph Beckett earlier this season.

Rossa Ryan's mount showed little on his first couple of starts but displayed signs of revival when returning to the City Walls last month, working his way along the rail to finish within half a length of Redorange in a bunched finish.

Given his obvious liking for York, I'd be surprised if Beckett hasn't been preparing Starlust for this assignment since that return to form.

Ryan should be able to ride the race to suit from a central draw in barrier 10, and if Starlust returns to his 2024 best, he is certainly capable of landing a blow.

Race 5 - Assured Data Protection Handicap Tips

Ralph Beckett has always held 4. Master Vintner in high regard.

Beckett threw his inexperienced gelding into the November Handicap at Doncaster on the back of two maiden victories last season, but he failed to deliver on that promise on the big stage, finishing 13th behind Castle Cove.

Inexperience proved costly again when Master Vintner was badly hampered first-up at Newmarket in May.

Rossa Ryan's mount then finished second in two competitive 2400m handicaps at Kempton before returning to winning ways with a career-best effort at Thirsk earlier this month.

I loved the way Eddie Greatrex's mount worked through his gears that day, and a rise of around 2.5kg for such a stylish victory doesn't appear overly harsh.

Ryan has a wide barrier to overcome on Friday, but there's no doubt in my mind that Master Vintner remains open to plenty of improvement, while any give left in the York surface will only enhance his chances.

Race 6 - Convivial Maiden Stakes Tips

I'd be surprised if this maiden wasn't won by one of the top three in betting, and I'm leaning towards 5. Lancaster Tower over the runners representing Ballydoyle and Wathnan Racing.

John and Thady Gosden's newcomer would have traded extremely short in-running when moving alongside front-runner Quest For Stars on debut at Sandown.

Unfortunately, when Rab Havlin asked for an effort, Lancaster Tower didn't find a great deal and weakened late as Charlie Appleby's juvenile carried a penalty to victory.

Quest For Stars has since won at Listed level, and you'd imagine Lancaster Tower will have improved both physically and mentally from that debut outing.

Slightly softer ground should also suit, given his dam was a Group 1 winner on heavy ground in France.

Race 7 - Fillies' Handicap Tips

I thought Silver Lake was hugely impressive when winning at Glorious Goodwood, and I wouldn't be surprised to see the favourite follow up from a mark around 4kg higher.

I also like the chances of fellow three-year-old 14. Pendella, who offers good each-way value against the market leader.

Karl Burke's filly ran twice here at York earlier in the season, finishing fifth behind the excellent Arc Ole Ole over 2400m before running second to Pearl River over this course and distance.

Burke's front-runner weakened late on soft ground at the Epsom Derby Festival but bounced back at Beverley the following month, scoring comfortably against three rivals.

Sam James appeared to have plenty left in reserve that day, while the third has since come out and won.

All six previous winners of this race have been drawn in the first four barriers, leaving Burke's filly well placed to strike from barrier two.

Ebor Festival Day 3 Tips Summary

Race	Track	Tip 1	Tip 2
1	York	7. Zennor Storm	11. Jeddaal
2	York	3. Amiloc
3	York	6. Hell Of A Spin
4	York	2. American Affair	9. Starlust
5	York	4. Master Vintner
6	York	5. Lancaster Tower
7	York	14. Pendella

Verdict

Ebor Festival 2026 - Day 3 Preview

Our best & value bets for day three of the 2026 Ebor Festival are:

Amiloc

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Zannor Storm

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Master Vintner

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